Clydebank 2
Pollok 1
League (WoSFL Premier)

Match Report

Nicky Low scored with quite possibly his first touch of the season, never mind the match, when he came off the bench to seal a confident three points as he helped the Bankies to a deserved 2-0 victory over a combative Pollok side at Holm Park.

Both the Bankies and the ‘Lok were defending 100% starts to the league campaign, but the Southsiders look to be not quite the side of recent years and are going to find it hard when they come up against the top sides in the league. Yes, they were competitive as expected but aside from a spell after Nicky Little’s opener, they never really looked like they could win the game.

Once again, building on a solid defence, the Bankies had to be patient and they took their chances when they came along, and may have added a further goal or two on another day. Unfortunately, the much craved for clean sheet proved elusive as a stoppage time penalty gave Pollok a late consolation. Two of the three goals conceded this season have come from the penalty spot, showing how secure the defence have been thus far.

The Bankies have not had a short injury list to contend with at the start of the season with even players fit enough to play nursing strains and knocks. So, to lose the in-form Thomas Collins after just 15 minutes was a blow we could have done without. Fortunately, his replacement Craig Truesdale, who has just returned from injury himself, went on to have one of his best performances in a Clydebank shirt yet.

Both sides were still feeling each other out at this point with only a tame shot from Dean Cairns causing any kind of alarm to the Pollok goal. Clydebank began to take control of the game in the main, but there were not too many efforts on goal in the first half. However, those chances that were created were by the men in white.

Nicky Little had a couple of chances. One of which was a driven shot from the edge of the box which went over the bar and the other was very similar to the two chances he missed at Gartcairn when he sclaffed a first time shot from a Hodge cross. He was a bit more unlucky this time as the ball deflected off of Forrester and the pace was taken off the shot allowing Fry to save.

That was possibly the best chance of the game at this point, and the only other noteworthy opportunity was when Gallacher hit the ball off the legs of keeper Fry, but it was a losing battle for the winger as Truesdale’s through ball just very slightly over-cooked.

The half closed with a few angry flashpoints that have been all too familiar in these games in the recent past. However, in fairness to the referee he tried to keep his cards in his pocket and managed to diffuse most situations.

The second half continued in much the same vein until the vital opening goal was scored after 53 minutes. Nicky Little had been crudely fouled on the edge of the box, and the captain lined up the shot himself. It wasn’t a great attempt as the ball was blocked by the wall, however he thrashed the rebound in first time with his left foot, aided with a deflection that took the ball past Fry in the Pollok goal.

Falling behind elicited a response from Pollok, and they had their best moment five minutes later. A cleared cross broke for ex-Bankie Lee Duncanson who hit a powerful shot that took a wicked deflection and the ball came crashing off the post. McPhie pounced on the rebound but his angled shot flew over the bar.

Just after the hour another ex-Bankie Calum Gow met a free kick into the box with his head, but the ball drifted across the face of the goal with no takers. Pollok decided to make three substitutions at this point when they looked like they might get back on level terms.

This action seemed to have the opposite effect to the desired intention as Clydebank began to take control of the game once more. It may just have been that the Bankies had weathered the storm and were beginning to find their range on the break.

With 71 minutes on the clock, Nicky Low entered the field for his first taste of action this season. He looked a bit off the pace to be honest, but for the first ten minutes of his introduction he was everywhere that mattered.

His first touch was to slam the ball into the net after 73 minutes. Lee Gallacher was released down the right flank, and he skipped in front of his marker to side-foot a shot that Fry managed to block. The ball broke to the penalty spot where Low was perfectly positioned to fire the ball into the net.

A few more minutes on and he almost scored a second. He split the Pollok defence wide open, and Truesdale ran clear down the right hand side. Truesdale then returned the ball to Low who had scampered into the box but he could only hit the side-netting.

With thirteen minutes remaining, the Bankies took a clever floated corner to the edge of the box. Craig Truesdale controlled the ball on his chest, and he attempted a volley which he never quite caught properly, however the ball made it’s way to Dean Cairns who diverted the ball with a cute back heel, but he was out of luck as the ball went wide of the goal.

Just as it looked like the game was done and dusted, Pollok were given a lifeline in stoppage time. Andy Leishman came a long way for a cross ball, but he did not make a great connection with his attempted punch. Out of position, the ball was thrashed goalward, and David Syme tried to block but the ball ricocheted of his arm for a penalty kick.

Luke Main struck the ball straight down the middle of the goal to ruin the Bankies efforts to get a first clean sheet of the season. Pollok tried desperately to make something happen in the time that remained but the Bankies comfortably held on.

This was a solid but unspectacular win over a tough rival. We always just looked that little bit stronger than Pollok all over the field. It was more of a team performance than one where individuals took the glory. I will say Dean Cairns had a strong second half, and his partner in the middle of the pitch Frazer Johnstone chased everything down. The whole defensive line impressed again, and Craig Truesdale can be pleased with his contribution amongst the forwards.

The Bankies tough opening run of fixtures continue next week when we travel to the highly fancied St Cadocs at New Tinto. The Cad’s haven’t had a great start to the season, but they had a fine win today and will be dangerous opponents now they feel their season has truly kicked off.

Match report written by Stuart McBay